Pokémon has finally broken into live action… but does Detective Pikachu evolve the franchise to new levels, or simply hit us with confusion.
Pokémon is a generational multi-billion media monster.
Starting out as a gaming phenomenon, Pokémon has amassed a globally fierce
fanbase spanning anime, cards, toys and of course movies. For generations fans have
been craving a jump to live action adventures and the wait is finally over…
Pikachu is here… but not how most of us would suspect. The
undisputed cuddly king of the pocket monsters, Pikachu, is known for his sparky
charm and plucky attitude. Detective Pikachu however, is a coffee guzzling,
wise cracking wreck that literally asks you to smell his finger. Voiced by the
charismatically cool Ryan Reynolds, Detective Pikachu is shockingly sincere and
infectiously irreverent in live action. Reynolds manages to deliver another
memorable characterisation that surprisingly doesn’t simply wreak of diluted Deadpool
(Shock!). Pikachu brings extra zing to a previously one-dimensional cutesy
character and boy is he cute. There are distinctly memorable moments delivered
by Reynolds. I genuinely laughed out loud and left wanting more witty wise
cracks and less Pika-Pika in possible future instalments. Detective Pikachu… I choose
you! 
Reynolds is the undisputed fuzzy frontrunner of this
brand-new franchise. Taking Pokémon beyond serious to a place of sophisticated
silliness. The first act brilliantly sets up the weird world of Pokémon and
pokes fun at the obvious cartoonish catching of cute monsters for the sake of
battling. This movie however, focuses less on the usual master quest and more
on the inclusive world of humans and Pokémon alike. Instead of Ash Ketchum we
get Tim Goodman, portrayed by the competent Justice Smith. The human buddy to
Reynolds’ Detective Pikachu breathes fresh life into the franchise and shows
how hard being a Pokémon trainer actually could be. Smith is relatable and
offers an understated performance that brings reality to this unique universe. 
Indie actress Kathryn Newton also joins Smith and adds quirk
alongside her Psyducks endearing quack. Newton plays reporter Lucy Stevens and
feels straight out of Anime. Her kawaii-cool aesthetic and nose for a story
adds a little extra camp to the trio of mainly man-child humour.
The additional cast are distinctly less desirable. Rita Ora is
woefully wooden and adds nothing to the story other than a soundtrack
opportunity. Ora’s character repels charisma and used sleep very affectively.
Snooze! Bill Nighy and Ken Watanabe also fair less favourably. Both great
additions to the story but are atrociously underused and suffer from poor
script support. They just about manage to get away safely with their natural
onscreen charm but I wanted more.
The true Joy of Detective Pikachu rightly remains with the
Pokémon. You are treated to a plethora of real life Poké-pals. All used with
expert eccentricity (talking about you Mr. Mime.) The screen is literally
filled with your favourite characters and creates an alluring re-watch-ability
to see Pokémon interact with a world we know and love. The world building is
truly incredible and feels evolved from the animated alternative. The city
scenes feel reminiscent of Jordan Cronenworth’s Blade Runner cinematography
with a Japanese infusion. Similarly, the cinematography in Detective Pikachu
offers real world depth and dimension that complements the extraverted Pokémon
aesthetic. Cinematographer John Mathieson chooses to shoot on traditional film
and offers an organic view of a fantastic fantasy. Great work John!
Director, Rob Lettmerman definitely had the superior elements
that could of created a superb secret sauce. However, the last act sadly fails
to fully impress. With an engaging homage to Roger Rabbit, the first act
buddies up our stars perfectly. The world of Pokémon is established and the
action builds but sadly never reaches crescendo. Letterman is clearly more
Pokémon breeder than master and his use of action simply isn’t very effective. Maybe next time?
To conclude, Detective Pikachu is a cheeky turn on the
serious fan series. Reynolds shocks as a witty Pikachu and is brilliant when
creating the classic buddy-up dynamic with Smith and the wider world around
him. You’ll definitely laugh, maybe cry and enjoy the odd, somewhat obvious,
twisty moment. But the real joy comes from Poké-spotting and reminiscing about
your favourites from generations gone by. Detective Pikachu definitely wins the
battle with charm but has someway to go before becoming a true Pokémon master…
until next time.
Catch Detective Pikachu
in theatres now!
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